Echinacea plant named ‘Pink Mist’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Pink Mist’, particularly distinguished by red-purple colored ray florets, floriferous, compact habit, healthy, abundant foliage, and good mildew resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Pink Mist’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pink Mist’. The new cultivar originated from an open pollination in 2005 in a nursery location in Hillegom, The Netherlands between unknown male and female Echinacea plants. The nursery location was densely populated with Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea paradoxa and Echinacea hybrids.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollination in 2007 in Hillegom, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea by in vitro propagation in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since the summer of 2008, has shown that the unique features of the Echinacea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Hillegom, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. Red-purple colored ray florets;     -   2. Floriferous;     -   3. Compact habit;     -   4. Healthy, abundant foliage; and     -   5. Good mildew resistance.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Matthew Saul’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,652. However, in side by side comparisons in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Pink Mist’ differ from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more floriferous than plants         of ‘Matthew Saul’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different         from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’;     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a ray floret color different         from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’; and     -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have larger ray florets, as         measured by length and width, than plants of ‘Matthew Saul’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Pink Mist’ are similar to ‘Amber Mist’, pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/592,652. However, in side by side comparisons in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Pink Mist’ differ from plants of ‘Amber Mist’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Pink Mist’. The plant was field grown for approximately 1 year in Hillegom, The Netherlands in an outdoor nursery location. Plants were transplanted into a one-gallon container for photography purposes.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Pink Mist’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Pink Mist’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken in August 2009 on 1-year-old field grown plants which were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperatures between 14° C. and 28° C. and nighttime temperatures between 5° C. and 18° C. No pinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments were used. Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylight conditions.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida cultivar ‘Pink Mist’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Echinacea sp.         -   Male parent.—Unknown Echinacea sp. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are             possible.         -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at             14° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately             30 days at 14° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, poorly branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 20 weeks from a rooted             tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright, narrow             inverted triangle, herbaceous perennial.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous, approximately 18 cm per             month in spring.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in             mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures             up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 63.3 cm. Width: Approximately 41.1 cm.         -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow             from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately             14.         -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect, 5° angle             from vertical. Shape: Rounded. Length to base of             inflorescence: Approximately 36.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 6.1 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.5 mm.             Color of pubescence: 157D. Color of young and mature stems:             144A, densely covered with lenticels. Length of lenticels:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Width of lenticels: Approximately             0.3 mm. Color of lenticels: N186B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.             Shape: Narrowly ovate, slightly carinate. Margin: Widely             serrate, very slightly undulate. Apex: Acute to long acute.             Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature             leaf: Approximately 11.4 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 4.6 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Slightly glossy, moderately to densely pubescent with short             strigose hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.3 mm.             Color of pubescence: 157D. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 137A with venation of 144C. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: 137B to 137C with venation of 144C. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: N137A with venation of             144C. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 147B with             venation of 144C.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 3.3 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Height: Approximately             3.5 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Glossy, sparsely covered with very short strigose             hairs. Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.2 mm. Color of             pubescence: Closest to 157D. Color of upper surface: 144B to             144C, slightly tinged with 181C to 181D at base. Color of             lower surface: 144B to 144C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Pink Mist’ continuously flowers from early             July to mid-September in The Netherlands.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.             Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:             Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:             Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 14. Height:             Approximately 5.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 12.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 18.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Moderately pubescent with short strigose hairs.             Length of pubescence: Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of             pubescence: 157D. Color: 144A, densely covered with             lenticels. Length of lenticels: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width             of lenticels: Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of lenticels:             N186B.         -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Shape: Flattened             globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.7 cm. Color:             145C flushed with 63D and with a center of 143A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 38.             Arrangement: Slightly imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect:             Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly             elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Cuneate. Length:             Approximately 5.3 cm. Width: Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture             of upper surface: Smooth, slightly ribbed longitudinally.             Texture of lower surface: Smooth, ribbed longitudinally.             Color of upper surface when first open: 70B. Color of lower             surface when first open: 64A to 64B. Color of upper surface             when fully open: 186A. Color of lower surface when fully             open: 185B to 186A with a central band of 147C to 147D.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.1 cm. Quantity             per inflorescence: Approximately 560. Arrangement: Spirally             arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin             of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused             into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper             surface when first and fully open: 144B. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: 144B to 144C.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 2.9 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.3 cm. Color: NN155B with 186A to             186B at margin.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 75.             Arrangement: In a three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.             Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards             the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of             lower or outer surface: Glabrous with margins moderately to             densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Length of             pubescence: Approximately 0.3 mm. Color of pubescence: 157D.             Color of upper surface: 137B. Color of lower surface: 137A.         -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc: 560. Shape:             Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous.             Color: Apex of N25A with mid-section of 143B and base of             144D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,             basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther             color: 200A to 202A. Filament length: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Filament color: 145C. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant.             Pollen color: 17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: 183B to 183D.             Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 157A. Ovary             color: 145C to 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew resistance. No particular     resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to     date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Pink Mist’, substantially as herein shown and described. 